02/22/2026— Christina Critiques (Wonderland nominees & the Booker List nominees)

Since Christina is busy moving her family for the next couple of weeks, we will be running a couple of very worthy re-posts of her reviews. Today, we wanted to remind you about these wonderful, award-nominated reads!

WONDERLAND AWARDS NOMINEES - Finalist

KENNEL

By: Garrett Cook

Release: 12/24/24

Page Count: 126

KU: No

Hoopla: No

Synopsis: Pup, a sub, lost his Dom and finds a home with Daddy. But Daddy is known in the community for sinister reasons and Pup finds that not all Doms are created equal.

First line: “Cosmology of satin.”

Favorite line: ‘“Easy for you to say”, said Pup to themselves. “You’re already dead.”’

Thoughts: Cook knows how to unsettle readers from the first page, and this is no exception. The sympathy for the characters is real as is the hate we, the readers, have to feel. And the title… friends, the title is perfection.

Rating: 5/5

Other recommendations: A GOD OF HUNGRY WALLS, CHARCOAL

Find it here: https://a.co/d/gShh2OJ

STARLET

By: Danger Slater

Release: 8/27/24

Page count: 136

KU: No          Hoopla: No

What happens when a down-home gal gets her chance to impress a well-known and extremely popular actor? Shenanigans. And because Danger wrote it, double shenanigans.

Imagine AMERICAN NARCISSUS by Chandler Morrison but throw in body horror and paparazzi. I know, that’s a humdinger but trust me, it not only makes sense but is a stellar novel.

Slater gives us 10% Hollywood superficiality, 30% bizarro, 30% body horror, and 30% splatterpunk to equal 100% perfection. I’m not giving much away because I’m not going to ruin any of the insanity he has in store for you but know, he serves it like a Hollywood actress trying to stay of “the” casting couch.

5/5.

Find it here: https://a.co/d/dYxfqZm

2025 BOOKER LIST NOMINATIONS - Shortlist

AUDITION

By: Katie Kitamura

Release: 4/17/25

Page count: 200

KU: No     Hoopla: No

Synopsis: What happens when one must audition to play oneself in life? Will the audience react favorably as the curtain falls or will the show go on without you?

First line: “It seemed an unlikely choice, this large establishment in the financial district, so that I stood outside and checked the address, the name of the restaurant, I wondered if I had made a mistake.”

Favorite line: “Your approval means a great deal to him.”

Thoughts: AUDITION broke my heart. The female main character both needs and is needed for approval in life. How one sensitive interview question years before can rewrite an entire life or lives in this case. How easy it is to lose oneself in love, life, and marriage to the point of resentment for yourself and others. But the main question to answer when reading this is - who is in the spotlight on stage, the characters or you?

Rating: 5/5

Find it here: https://a.co/d/59vtxdw